You have made your decision, booked an appointment, and “Now what?” you might ask. Well, there are some guidelines that can help you get the best possible results from your facial plastic surgery. We will need you to stop using some medications, and we will ask you to use some others. There are habits that you would be better off giving up or habits that could help if you pick them up. So if you start following our guidelines about a month before the operation, you will most likely have a very healthy recovery. Let’s see what these guidelines are in detail.
Schedule before Facial Plastic Surgery
About a month before the surgery, we recommend patients to undergo a general physical examination. Our surgeons need such data. And this time also is a pretty good time to talk to our doctor about your concerns. During your consultation, you will have a chance to talk about what end results to expect, how much scarring will be there, what can we do about them, etc. There are also things you can do to minimise postoperative scarring.
About three weeks before the surgery, you should stop smoking and alcohol intake. Tell our experts about the medications you take regularly. Be on the lookout for fresh produce (that helps you stay hydrated) and protein-rich foods. Avoid foods that contain salicylates. Think about getting your hands on a couple of ice packs to use after the operation. Collect books, games, or movies to binge on for when you are recovering.
Two Weeks before the Surgery
About two weeks before the surgery, it may prove useful to take certain vitamin supplementations if our doctor recommends you to. Also, certain medications and herbal supplementations interfere with surgical procedures, so consult our experts about whether you can keep using them. Especially these medications below are a big no for surgical procedures:
- Aspirin
- Anticoagulants
- Anti-inflammatories
Talk to our doctor about what you should do with these medications if you are supposed to be taking them.
One Week before the Surgery
And finally, about a week before your surgery, reduce the amount of sodium you take (we get most of our sodium from table salt). Keep yourself hydrated regularly, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Increase protein intake too as it helps with faster recovery. We also highly recommend our patients to get someone to accompany them through their first night at least.
And of course, not to mention that getting a good night’s rest before the operation is pretty important both mentally and physically. If you are going to undergo sedation, do not eat anything after midnight before the operation.